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Case Study: Series of Errors Lead to Delay in Cancer Treatment

Compensation: £3,000

JMW has helped a family secure £3,000 compensation following a series of errors from medical professional which led to a delay in cancer treatment for a member of their family.

Caroline attended her GP with a chesty cough and pain when breathing. She was initially treated with antibiotics for a chest infection and underwent a chest x-ray. She was advised soon after the x-ray that a shadow was found and was referred urgently for further investigations.

Following a CT scan there was some initial uncertainty as to whether the shadow represented a tumour or an infection. Following further investigations with a follow-up chest x-ray and a sample of fluid being taken from her chest, she was diagnosed with lung cancer and was advised that the cancer was to such an extent that it could only be treated palliatively with chemotherapy to help with her symptoms and that it was unlikely that she would be cured. A couple of days after the diagnosis, Caroline was informed by her treating doctors that she had also tested positive for TB. She was advised that her TB would have to be treated first before she could be given chemotherapy for the cancer.

Caroline commenced treatment for TB for 3 weeks, during which time she had ongoing symptoms of breathlessness and anxiety following the diagnosis. 3 weeks after starting treatment for TB, Caroline and her husband were informed by her treating doctors that the hospital laboratory had mixed up samples and she did not in fact have TB after all. Unfortunately Caroline passed away a couple of weeks later without ever having started the chemotherapy.